2009 Smart Fortwo Passion — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 822 MOT tests, the 2009 Smart Fortwo Passion recorded a 76.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.5% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, coil spring and on or after 01/07/2008 — service brake performance alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 Fortwo Passion fails 25.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 21.9% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.9% in 2021 to 23.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 103 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 76 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 68 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 56 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 33 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 44 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 43 |
| 3 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 40 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 33 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 30 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.5% | 226 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.9% | 172 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.9% | 147 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 81 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.5% | 62 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 60 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 202 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 289 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 255 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 185 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 173 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 168 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 154 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 142 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Fortwo Passion
On a 2009 Fortwo Passion, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (8.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Smart Fortwo Passions pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 822 2009 Smart Fortwo Passion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Smart Fortwo Passion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 2009 Fortwo Passion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.7% in the 30-60k band to 21.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 822 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.